DUNCAN FLETCHER has revealed how England's devastating display to win the opening Test at Sabina Park was the direct result of the hard work ethic which the squad have embraced this winter.

The tourists' stunning 10-wicket victory was delivered in breathtaking style with fast bowler Steve Harmison bullying the West Indies into submission with stunning figures of seven for 12 to leave the Caribbean shell-shocked by his performance.

The display followed equally impressive Harmison contributions to the final Test victory over South Africa at The Oval in September and the first Test triumph in Bangladesh, after which he flew home and missed the tour to Sri Lanka after sustaining a side strain.

But England coach Fletcher believes his Sabina Park display and his impressive showing at Dhaka on a flat wicket, when he claimed nine wickets in the match, would not have been possible without Harmison and the rest of the squad adopting a tough work schedule introduced by captain Michael Vaughan at the end of last summer.

Gym visits after a day's play are common practice this winter, while England's net practices are visibly longer and more intense than they have been in recent years.

It is that change of attitude which Fletcher believes is the root cause of Harmison's progression into a fast bowler capable of producing on a consistent basis at Test level.

"I don't think it was a matter of confidence with him, it was more a matter of realising what work was required to become a great cricketer," said Fletcher.

"In all sports you've got great players but if you notice something about all those great players, they still put in a lot of work.

"People are starting to realise that this is not just a game that you wake up, go and play and go home with - if you put a lot of effort in you get your results."

Harmison even maintained the new work policy during his time on the sidelines recovering from injury and trained several times a week with his beloved Newcastle United in addition to training with the A team at the academy centre in Loughborough.

That hard work ensured he arrived in the Caribbean at the peak of his fitness and Fletcher claimed, "I think what has changed in him and a few of the players is all from this hard work we started in Bangla-desh.

"Suddenly this message has got through to them that a lot of hard work is required."

Fletcher added, "The hard work doesn't just mean keeping fit, though, it means working at your game, trying to change your game and improving it - you can't stand still."

Harmison's progression over the last few years has been such that he is now regarded as the England bowler to fear not just by West Indies, who have only three days to recover their composure before they face him again in the second Test at Queens Park Oval in Trinidad, but also by other leading Test nations.

"He's put the frighteners on a few Test sides," stressed Fletcher. "I know South Africa didn't enjoy him at all and I know other sides are the same. We found out that Sri Lanka were very nervous about him going there.

"That's why we were frustrated that he had to go back with that injury from Bangladesh and we thought he could have done a good job for us out there. He's one of the bowlers who could have really helped on those flat wickets out there, he would have been the one effective quick bowler out there."

His recent displays have helped him claim 22 wickets in his last three Tests and have perhaps repaid the faith shown in him by Fletcher and previous captain Nasser Hussain when Harmison's contributions were sporadic rather than consistent.

But in the last year he has claimed 36 victims in only eight Tests to firmly establish himself as England's premier spearhead following the retirement of Darren Gough and the long-term injury to Andrew Caddick.